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The wild animal act of mixed beasts has been seen on the variety stage for a long time. The last time Haveman appeared at Hammerstein's was eight years a go.
The German does not "train" the beasts but rather plays with them. He goes so far as to feed them raw meat while in the cage. He feeds three lions, two tigers, two leopards and two cross-breeds (lions and tigers). He pets one of the leopards while it munched on the meat. Others he teased with food, passing it before their faces. While pawing for the food they do not leave their positions. Other little points of interest are wrestling with a lion, rolling over with three or four of the animals, and allowing a tiger to push him underneath, the trainer face upwards.
Haveman starts off with such speed and beyond the usual animal training, the house can't understand it for a few moments, then everybody is marveling.
When you are familiar and popular enough to give the full grown kings of the forests a lunch of raw meat while putting them through tricks, it's about due to the man who does it that he be dubbed the King of Trainers. It might not be much of a feat, but there is no one hanging around this part of the country who wants to try it. The act is especially fine for children. An example of such superior animal training or mastery has not been touched to date. It is said about the theatre that Haveman sleeps with animals. It needn't be doubted, for from the expert work shown, he will soon have lions and tigers running errands for him.
Source:
Variety 36:3 (09/18/1914)